Drag-bar for drills.



N0. 695,7!3. Patented Mar. 18, I902.

W. FETZER.

DRAG BAR FOR DRILLS.

(Application flied Nov. 21, 190

UNTTED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

VILLIAM FETZER, OF MIDDLETOWN, OIIIO.

DRAG-BAR FOR DRILLS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 695,713, dated March 18, 1902.

Application filed November 21, 1901. Serial No. 83,139. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, \VILLIAM FETZER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Middletown, county of Butler, State'of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Drag-l3ars forDrills; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

The object of the invention is to improve the construction of the drag-bars by means of which the furrow-openers are pivotall y con-- nected to the machine-frame.

As herein disclosed the improvement is illustrated and described only as embodied in a machine where the disk-like type of hoes or furrow-openers are employed; but as the benefits of the new construction accrue to machines having trailing furrow-openers of any kind the invention is not limited to any particular machine.

Referring to the accompanying drawing, forminga part of this specification, the figure illustrates in perspective a complete dragbar with furrow-opener and spout of the disk type.

No particular novelty is herein claimed for any part of this device except the construc tion of the drag-bar itself.

In the drawing, a denotes the disk-like f u rrow-opener; b, the grain-spout; c, the cleaner, and cl 2 the clips by means of which the disk is journaled at the rear end of the bar.

The drag-baritself is formed of two metallic bars ff, which are spraddled apart into a sort of yoke 2' at their upper ends where they are to be pivotally connected to the machineframe, so as to secure as wide a hearing as practicable to steady the bar and the trailing parts againstlateral strains. From this sprad- (lled part at the upper end theindividual bars extend rearwardly parallel with each other to the clips, by means of which they are secured to the disk-bearing and spout-casting, respectively. l-lerct-ofore they have either been widely separated at points intermediate between the yoke i and the disk a, leaving an open space between them, or have been secured together in actualcontact between these points and spraddled apart at their rear ends into another yoke-like bearingto straddle the edges of the disk. The former arrangement is objectionable for the reason that the long open space between the bars is extremely liable to catch cornstalks, weeds, &c., and the latter arrangement is objectionable because the spraddled lower ends afford an enlarged opening just in front of the disk into which all sorts of trash lodges and also because in order to secure the necessary strength, rigidity, and resistance to torsional strains it is necessary to employ larger, heavier, and more expensive bars, as well as because the constant jarring and vibration to which the bars are subjected in use tends to crystallize the metal, thus greatly shortening their lives.

, In my improved construction the bars are straight and parallel from a point immediately in rear of the yoke-like bearing tall the between them and secured in place by the bolts h h or other means by which the bars are secured to each other is located a nonmetallic filling-piece or cushion g. This filling-piece or cushion is preferably made of wood and extends all the way from the yoke i to the disk at, just clearing the edge of the disk, as shown in the drawing. The particular advantages of this arrangement are threefold, viz: It permits the employment of thinner lighter bars without the necessity of separating them widely in order to secure the requisite strength and closes ontirely the spaces between the bars midway of their length and just in front of the disk, thereby preventing the catching and accumulation of stalks, weeds, and other trash, as before described. It also greatly stiffens the bars against torsional and lateral strains, and in addition to these advantages the fillingpieces being of wood or some other non-metallic substance the bars ff are cushioned and crystallization of the metal is greatly di minished, if not altogether eliminated. The drag-bar as a whole is therefore lighter and stronger than those heretofore employed, and the mere saving of weight in machines of this description where gangs of such bars,

ICO

disks, and spouts are employed is of great benefit both to the manufacturer and user. The freedom from liability to be warped out of shape by torsional strains is also of immense advantage where the heaviest parts of the machine trail upon the ground and have no support or brace at any intermediate point between their connection with the frame and the ground. The closing up of the spaces between the bars also lightens the draft of the machine by doing away with that constant pullback and strain on the team which comes from the stalks, weeds, and other trash catching between the bars, and, furthermore, the cushioning of the individuals comprising the bars with a substance softer than the material of the bars themselves increases the durability of the bars, as above described, and adds greatly to their appearance.

I am aware that it has been proposed to bolt metallic strips to the opposite sides of a Wooden plow-beam near its rear end and also that such a beam has been formed throughout of metallic bars with a piece of wood be tween them. My invention is, however,clearly distinguished from each of these arrangements, both in the purpose for which it was especially designed and in the result accomplished, and I do not herein claim the making of plow-beams or analogous parts in such manner. I am also aware of the patent to Field, No. 40,096, September 29, 1863, Where a dragbar for hoe-drills is made of a thin tapering plank that has strips of metal screwed to its edges and which is pivotally connected centrally to the hoes or drill-teeth. I do not, however, herein claim any of these arrangements; but

What I do claim, and desire to secure, is

1. In a disk drill, the combination to form a drag-bar, of two metallic bars secured together in parallel relation, and a non-metallic filling-piece interposed between them so as to close the intermediate space between and clamp the filling-piece between them so as to form a cushion for the metallic bars, and also strengthen them against torsional strains.

2. In a disk drill, the combination to form a drag-bar, of twometallic bars secured together in parallel relation, and a wooden filling-piece interposed between them so as to close the intermediate space between and form a cushion for the metallic bars, and also to strengthen them against torsional strains.

In testimony whereof I alfix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

WILLIAM FETZER. \Vitnosses:

W. D. VORHIS, ALONZO BREDE. 

